LATCH in 2002 Toyota Echo

A friend's 2002 Echo doesn't have LATCH bars in the center position, but when I tried to help her install her RA (RF) with the belt it would not get tight enough (it has one of those strange 2-buckle belts). I put it in the center using the inboard two LATCH bars (for the outboard seating positions), tethered to the front passenger seat rail, and it was rock solid. The question is, is this not allowed? (and why, out of curiousity?) Should I tell her to put it in in one of the outboard positions?

Thanks,
-Linda

Toyota unfortunately doesn't currently allow borrowing the outboard lower LATCH anchors to install in the center. It's either a non-standard distance between those lower anchors, which isn't approved by Toyota for installing with LATCH because it adversely affected crash performance in some way, or it hasn't been thoroughly tested and approved yet in the center seating position.

Based on the latest edition of the LATCH manual (2007 edition), there seems to be a progression among vehicle manufacturers and carseat manufacturers (both would have to okay borrowing for it to be allowed in any given vehicle) to move toward allowing center LATCH. It's possible down the road Toyota may give us the "all clear" to use borrow those LATCH anchors for a center installation, but until then it's best to follow the current instructions.

Since Toyota doesn't currently allow borrowing, I would either reinstall with LATCH outboard in your friend's Echo, or with the seatbelt outboard or seatbelt in the center, using whichever allowed installation method gives you the most solid installation with less than 1 inch of movement at the carseat's belt path.

Thanks, that's sort of what I figured.